President Biden Unveils Strategy to Combat Islamophobia and Hate in the US

United States President Joe Biden has unveiled plans to establish the nation’s first-ever national strategy aimed at combating Islamophobia and related forms of hate. Biden expressed his administration’s commitment to addressing hate against Muslims and those wrongly perceived as Muslims, such as Arabs and Sikhs. The President emphasised the need to develop a national strategy to counter Islamophobia and related forms of hate and stated that silence would be seen as complicity.

The White House announced its intention to create the US National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia, aiming to unite legislators, advocacy groups, and community leaders with the administration to combat various forms of Islamophobia and hatred. The statement from the White House recognised the long-standing challenges faced by Muslims in America and those wrongfully perceived as Muslims, particularly Arabs and Sikhs, including hate-fueled attacks and discriminatory incidents.

This move follows President Biden’s directive from the previous year to establish an interagency group dedicated to enhancing and coordinating the government’s efforts to counter Islamophobia, antisemitism, and other biases and discrimination within the United States.

Vice President Kamala Harris also expressed her commitment to safeguarding US citizens and denouncing all forms of hate, emphasising the foundational principle of freedom for all people to live, worship, and exist without fear of violence or persecution.

This initiative to counter Islamophobia and related hate crimes comes in response to the significant increase in incidents of anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim hatred in the United States and other countries, particularly following the October 7 attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. This new strategy reflects the administration’s ongoing efforts to promote tolerance and protect the freedom of individuals to live without fear based on their beliefs and identities.